You are here

Port - take it out or not?

Ribbons

Posts: 73
Joined: Jan 2019

Mar 29, 2019 - 10:56 pm

My last chemo was 6 weeks ago, I want this port out. My Dr said she recommends leaving it for a while but I could have it out if I want. It bothers me, I’m always bumping it and sometimes it itches. Should I be cautious and live with it? I choose to think I am done with all this and the port is not needed anymore, so I guess it’s my decision but I need a little feedback.

If you can stand it, I'd leave it in for two years. Apparently, the risk of recurrence goes down significantly after that. But I also understand one's desire to think, "I'm cured. I did all this chemo and radiation so that I'd BE cured, and I'm cured." And the port bothers you.

My doc recommended 2 years from surgery. For me that is May 1, 2019. As Zsa Zsa said the greatest chance of recurrence is in the first 2 years. I will be happy to have it removed. Sometimes it bothers me and I don't like having to go to the hospital to have it flushed between check ups.

I felt like I was going to jinx things if I took out the port. I'd still have it in if I hadn't moved and changed doctors. I had it for a year and a half after chemo. I don't miss it, but it was my security blanket for just in case.

I hate mine, too. It pulls and itches and gives me the creeps. But, even before my recurrences, I'd decided to keep it for the full 2 years as recommended. Now it's been in contiual use (Keytruda every 3 weeks) so flushing isn't an issue, but I still don't like it. I don't blame you for wanting it out but caution you to think hard before pulling the plug... B

On the subject of port removal mine is to be removed on April 18th with local anesthetic. For those that have had their port removed what was the recovery like? Easy peasy, in and out and back to work that afternoon? Or ugh, it was sore for a few days. Just curious. When I had my port placed I was still recovering from surgery and chemo was the next day so I'm a bit foggy about what it felt like though I do recall the seatbelt did not feel good nor could I pull the lever to the easy chair by myself right away.

Thanks Cindi. That is helpful. I'm so looking forward to not feeling like I have a kink in my neck and looking forward to it not hurting so much when my granchildren accidentally bonk me there. Amazing how many times getting bonked can happen :) Also great idea on the numbing cream. I still have some so will use it that morning.

I was surprised when my med onc offered to have my port taken out when I saw her for a routine visit last month. I only finished chemo in September and always heard about that two-year rule of thumb. My port doesn't give me tons of trouble but burns now and then. I surprised myself by saying, "No, leave it in for now!" I don't want to have to have one put back in later.

It wasn't until I got home that I started reading into her offer. I'm Stage 4B. Was she saying there's nothing more they'll do that would use a port? Yikes. That kept me awake that night. I see my gyn onc next month and you can bet I'll be asking her thoughts about it.

Well, it's more likely that you could look at it the other way, maybe she is optimistic that you have been cured, and won't need it again! But I agree with you, I think you should leave it in. If you have a recurrence, there is more chemo that you could have, and they would need the port.

I still have mine and it’s been in since feb 2016. My prior doc recomended I keep it for the time being. It really doesn’t bother me and yes gives me some reassurance. I see a new oncologist in a couple weeks and we will see what he says.

I had my first port for over a year after finishing chemo the 1st time. When I came to need chemo again they used it for my first treatment. I "threw" a clot which turned out to be life-threateneing. That port came out and a new one put in on the other side. The surgeon who removed it told me it was full of clots and happens more than you would think. My second port the onc said take it out right after to ward against clots. I found having them taken out easy (and a relief). Putting one in, that was when I was sore.

I'm so sorry you had a clot issue - as if cancer wasn't life-threatening enough! When you had your regular port flushes in between finishing your first chemo and your second, did you have any trouble? Like did they always go successfully and did you have any symptoms at all that made you or the techs wonder if you had clots? My gyn-onc gave me a list of warning signs, and at my physical exams she asks how it is, but your experience sobers me a little - I want to be sure to be vigilant. I finished chemo in October of '17, and have my port flushed every 5 weeks.

Other than twice getting cellulitis around the port (I don't think my body likes it), I am glad I kept mine in. I thought it was for nothing, but here it is almost three years later, and I am being offered high dose Vit C IV, so it will get used again!

As for the itching.... I took the supplement "Serrapeptase" hoping it might help with the cancer (metastatic endometrial in 3 lobes of my lungs). To my utter surprise, it helped with the pink, itchy scarring of the port!!! It is so well-healed with barely visible non-raised thin scars. A nurse just exclaimed it was the most well-healed port surgery she'd seen.

The content on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions.